Bangladesh is going to introduce Farmer Cards for 20,671 landless, marginal and small farmers under a new government initiative that combines direct financial assistance with expanded access to agricultural services.
Under the initiative, eligible farmers will receive Tk 2,500 annually, along with access to subsidised inputs and a range of farming-related services delivered through a dedicated card system.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced the initiative on Sunday, coinciding with the launch of the Farmer Card distribution programme on Pahela Baishakh.
He said that as of Apr 11, data on 22,065 farmers had been collected nationwide.
This includes 2,246 landless farmers with less than 2.02 hectares of land, 9,458 marginal farmers, 8,967 small farmers, 1,303 medium farmers and 91 large farmers.
Among those registered, 21,141 are crop farmers, while others include 66 fishermen, 855 livestock farmers and three salt producers.
According to the minister, 20,671 of the registered farmers—primarily landless, marginal and small holders—have been selected for financial incentives, accounting for 93.7 percent of the database.
During the pre-pilot phase, beneficiaries will receive annual cash support of Tk 2,500 directly through the Farmer Card system.
The initiative is designed not only as a cash transfer mechanism but also as a platform for delivering agricultural inputs and services more efficiently.
Farmers will be able to use the card to access fertilisers, seeds, fish and livestock feed, as well as other subsidised agricultural materials through designated dealers.
The government has allocated Tk 83.4 million for the pre-pilot stage of the initiative, which will be implemented across 10 locations nationwide.
Following the initial phase, authorities plan to expand the pilot to 15 Upazilas by August 2026.
Based on its outcomes, the scheme will be rolled out nationwide in stages over the next four years, alongside the creation of a comprehensive farmer database.
The minister said all farmers in the country would eventually be brought under the card system, though cash assistance would remain limited to landless, marginal and small farmers.
He also emphasised that the Farmer Card would be fully non-partisan, saying the government aimed to eliminate past irregularities in subsidy distribution.
The distribution of cards will begin on Pahela Baishakh at Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail, marking the official launch of the programme.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative.
In the pre-pilot phase, distribution will take place across selected agricultural blocks in several districts, including Panchagarh, Bogura, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Tangail, Rajbari, Moulvibazar and Jamalpur.
Officials said nine of the 10 blocks will receive cards on the launch day, while distribution in Aranyapur will take place on Apr 17.
Beyond cash support, the Farmer Card will eventually provide access to subsidised irrigation, low-interest agricultural loans, machinery at reduced prices, government incentives, weather and market information via mobile services, agricultural training, pest and disease guidance, insurance coverage and fair-price marketing channels for produce.
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